With the economy in shambles, two wars raging, and climate change moving faster than predicted, what issues are consuming the Republicans? First and foremost, in full obstructionist mode, they provided only three votes for the Stimulus Package in a pathetic partisan hope that they can run on "fiscal responsibility" in the next round of elections. Funny how I never heard them discuss the massive deficit run up by President Bush under their watch.

Even more appalling is a rash of public statements that have come out in recent days that makes you scratch your head and say, "what in the hell are they thinking?" Let me give you a couple of ripe examples:

-At the Economic Summit this week at the White House, President Obama made an unprecedented move and opened up the floor to questions, including all Republican leaders, in a public forum! What an opportunity for the Republicans to get out their concerns on the great economic issues of the day and challenge President Obama directly in public. What did Senator McCain, the last nominee of the party, ask as his first question? He wanted to know if Senator Obama planned on stopping the order placed in the Bush years for a new Marine One helicopter? Obama was able to make people laugh and say of course not, he was pleased with the current one. McCain missed an incredible opportunity to get the Republican message before the people for debate! Maverick, indeed.

-Senator Richard Shelby (R-AL) used a major forum in his home state of Alabama to question if President Obama is even a citizen of America!

-Senator Jim Bunning (R-KY) used another speaking opportunity in Kentucky to proclaim loudly that Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg would be dead in six months! In an attempt to quell the bad publicity generated, he issued a formal apology to the feisty Madame Justice, who returned to the bench this week.

-Senator Sam Brownback (R-KS) wrote in a letter that Senator Edward M. Kennedy and Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi were not real Catholics! Didn't know the senator was a papal representative. So much for his message on Stimulus!

-The newly elected Chair of the Republican Party, Michael Steele, was asked about the possibility of the Republican Party supporting civil unions down the road he responded, "No, no, no. What would we do that for? What are you, crazy?" So much for inclusiveness!

-Of course we can never forget right-wing crazy Alan Keyes, a failed candidate for the Republican nomination for President a while back, as well as the failed candidate crushed by then Senator Obama in their Illinois Senate race, proclaiming loudly that not only was President Obama not a citizen, he was not legally president and was a real Communist. It might be time to officially get out the straight-jacket for this notorious goofball before he hurts himself.